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FRIDAY EDITION: Fall is here, I have one truckload of leaves for the dump today. I do the leaves as they come down, it makes things a lot easier, we have a 170 foot long tree lined driveway of beech and oak trees. Aurora was beautiful to see last night and had a definite effect on signals on 75 last night, spooky....

A Wisconsinite Heads into Milton’s Path on Purpose

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – A local is in Florida preparing now to help with hurricane Milton relief, and he’s brought crucial communication tools with him.

A Wisconsinite hit the road ahead of Milton’s landfall and made his way to Tampa, Florida. He’s there now helping with a unique and essential need… communication. As cell phone coverage goes out, it can be days to even a week before your family or loved ones even know if you are dead or alive.

“What I’m offering is communications to talk to the outside world.”

Dan Vanevenhoven is a volunteer with Amateur Radio Emergency Services, he lives in the Fox Valley area and a former Tampa Bay area resident.   STORY

Perkins retires emergency coordinator post

Allen Perkins, N1ATS, has retired from his position as Cumberland County amateur radio emergency coordinator.

A member of the Cumberland Plateau Amateur Radio Club, Perkins stepped into the post several years ago. He has also served as assistant emergency coordinator for 13 counties in District 6.

"Through the years, I have been the direct contact with the amateurs that are set up at the National Weather Service to relay actual and current weather to them from our county," he said. "I have used a map of the county that has been squared off in quadrants so as to locate very close to any possible situations that needed emergency assistance. We have club members throughout the county in those squares that can relay actual and current severe weather at the time of occurrence."

Perkins added, "This has been my calling and I regret that I am stepping down as EC, but I will let the person that takes my place that I will still be available if needed and will still be net control for severe weather."

Perkins and his wife, Sandy, moved to Cumberland County in January 2009, months after he retired from Irving Oil LLC of Canada and USA. A former assistant emergency coordinator in Cumberland County, ME, he said part of his retirement plans was to devote time to his beloved hobby of amateur — or ham — radio.

"After a few months here I was advised that many amateurs would meet at the Dairy Queen Monday-Friday in the morning for a chat session," he said. "It was there I met Wayne Alley K4MGE. He was at the time the EC for the county and after our friendship bloomed, he asked me if I would like to accept a passion as AEC for the county. Being involved in law enforcement many years ago and 33 years' military experience, I accepted his invitation."

Perkins remembers Alley was well known and respected at the county Emergency Management Agency office. He introduced Perkins to Keith Garrison, then EMA director, who Perkins describes as down to earth and dedicated to his position and Cumberland County.

Working with Garrison, he transmitted to the National Traffic Service, the nation's information center for amateur radio.

When Garrison retired, Perkins continued his work with EMA and Garrison's successor, Rick Smith.

THURSDAY EDITION: I imagine we will start seeing the devastation from Milton during the day, most everyuone I know down in Venice made it out ok....

CAARA club member Ron tuning the new Red Cross antenna

Severe solar storm could supercharge auroras across US, impact power grids, NOAA warns

Get ready, aurora chasers: There's a good chance you'll be able to catch a nice light show by the end of the week!

Forecasters with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) are highlighting the potential for a severe geomagnetic storm on Thursday (Oct. 10) and Friday (Oct. 11). That storm is likely to be in the G4 class — the second-highest level on the SWPC's geomagnetic storm scale, which takes into account both severity and potential impacts.  

Indeed, the SWPC has issued a G4 geomagnetic storm warning — the second one they've released since 2005. The other came this past May, in advance of a storm that spawned incredibly dramatic auroral displays.

The culprit? Another massive explosion from the sun. 

On Tuesday night (Oct. 8), the sunspot AR 3848 produced a strong X1.8-class solar flare. X flares are the most powerful type of flare, and this one triggered radio blackouts across sunlit parts of Earth. SWPC forecasters analyzed the flare using data gathered by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft and determined that it was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), a huge eruption of solar particles and magnetic fields. And that CME is directed toward Earth, and is expected to trigger a powerful geomagnetic storm when it hits us.

"If you think of two magnets and they have the same polarity, and [you] try to put them together, they repel. If they're opposite, they connect, and the magnets will stay together. It's the same thing here," Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the SWPC, said at a press conference on Wednesday (Oct. 9). 

"If the magnetic field in the CME is the same as Earth's, we will have an initial impact in effect and immediate enhancement in geomagnetic response, but we probably will not reach those severe levels or potentially higher," Dahl added. "If it's favorably connected as it comes through or changes into that configuration throughout its passage, then we will escalate in responses. That's where the true potential will come in, and we can issue our warnings and subsequent alerts as we reach those levels of activity."

According to SWPC forecasters, this CME is racing toward Earth at speeds between 2.7 million miles per hour and 2.9 million miles per hour (4.3 million kilometers per hour to 4.7 million kilometers per hour) — the fastest one they've seen in a while, Dahl said. It could hit our planet's magnetic field as early as Thursday morning. 

"It's a shock front that arrives here at Earth first, like a strong cold front moving across the U.S. You suddenly get a blast of enormous wind, but it may take a while for the extreme cold temperatures to show up. It's a similar thing with these CMEs," Dahl said.

According to SWPC forecasters, this CME is racing toward Earth at speeds between 2.7 million miles per hour and 2.9 million miles per hour (4.3 million kilometers per hour to 4.7 million kilometers per hour) — the fastest one they've seen in a while, Dahl said. It could hit our planet's magnetic field as early as Thursday morning. 

"It's a shock front that arrives here at Earth first, like a strong cold front moving across the U.S. You suddenly get a blast of enormous wind, but it may take a while for the extreme cold temperatures to show up. It's a similar thing with these CMEs," Dahl said.

"We get the shock front arrival and immediate jump-up of speed and strengthen[ing] of the magnetic field," Dahl added. "The strongest part of the magnetic field, like the extreme cold temperatures, may not show up for a bit because that's in that magnetic cloud portion as it rolls and passes over Earth. For those who are monitoring it and see that we had an arrival, but then things look like they're settling down, they are not. We still have the magnetic cloud to pass over Earth, so keep that in mind."

Strong geomagnetic storms can disrupt radio communications and power grids and even damage orbiting satellites. But they can also boost the auroras, also known as the northern and southern lights, making them more intense and viewable at lower latitudes than usual.

"We get the shock front arrival and immediate jump-up of speed and strengthen[ing] of the magnetic field," Dahl added. "The strongest part of the magnetic field, like the extreme cold temperatures, may not show up for a bit because that's in that magnetic cloud portion as it rolls and passes over Earth. For those who are monitoring it and see that we had an arrival, but then things look like they're settling down, they are not. We still have the magnetic cloud to pass over Earth, so keep that in mind."

Strong geomagnetic storms can disrupt radio communications and power grids and even damage orbiting satellites. But they can also boost the auroras, also known as the northern and southern lights, making them more intense and viewable at lower latitudes than usual.

WEDNESDAY EDITION: The lull before the big storm. God bless Florida....

Ham Radio Operators Assemble Ahead of Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton - Storm Updates

TUESDAY EDITION: It looks bad for Florida, I will be listening on 7268, the designated frequency for hurricane net news. I hope everyone in floding areas and also mobile homes get their ass out of town or to a cement structure. I went through one hurricane when we owned property in Florida....no fun.

Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) Tentative Activation Plans:

Tuesday (Line Up Reporting Stations, EOCs, Storm Shelters)

·       20 meters: 14.325 MHz (USB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC) until we lose propagation at night.

·       40 meters: 7.268 MHz (LSB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC). We will remain active on this frequency throughout the day and overnight for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows us to operate all night, we will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Wednesday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct their daily Net. 

Wednesday (Landfall Day)

·       20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 7:00 AM EDT (1100 UTC) and remain active until we lose propagation at night.

·       40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC). We will remain active on this frequency throughout the day and overnight for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows us to operate all night, we will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Thursday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct their daily Net. 

Amateur radio operators vital as Florida braces for Hurricane Milton

The aftermath seen from hurricane Helene across five states left people without power and cell service.

There are communities still recovering from damage. Energy companies are still restoring power.

Now hurricane Milton is closing in on Florida.

A local Amateur Radio Emergency Communication Coordinator says they’re vital components when there’s no power.

He says Ham Radio Operators in Escambia County are working during Helene and expects to prepare for Milton.

There are often crucial sources for communicating when power or cell service goes out.

Read more – https://bit.ly/4dFvAvE

Monday Edition: Listening to local nets on 75, Nearfest was enjoyed by all and they like the new location, nicely done volunteers...10 meters has been so unbelievable as of late, get on the air!

A robot gets a face of living ‘skin’ that allows it to smile

The uncanny feat is the result of new technology using engineered living skin tissue and human-like ligaments to give robots a more natural smile, according to Tokyo University researchers who unveiled their work this week.   STORY

Hurricane Milton - Storm Updates

NEARFEST  EDITION: I have heard nothing but compliments on the new venue New Boston, NH hamfest, a happy group, well organized and great weather...kudos to all involved in making this happen...

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

HEROICS AMID HURRICANE HELENE'S DEVASTATION

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story is Hurricane Helene, which swept through the United States' southern states, bringing what is being called "unprecedented tragedy." Amateur radio can be at its best when times are at their worst, and Randy Sly W4XJ shares an example of that in one area of hardest-hit North Carolina.

RANDY: Since making landfall on the evening of September 26th, Hurricane Helene not only left a trail of devastation but also produced thousands of acts of heroism, especially in the remote areas of the United States impacted by flood waters. In addition to emergency personnel and first responders, those involved included helicopter pilots, teams with pack mules, and other volunteers, including hams providing emergency communications.

Examples of live-saving communication could be heard around the clock on the W4HTP repeater at Mt. Mitchell North Carolina. On Saturday morning, September 28th, Dan Gitro, K2DMG, was in his ham shack and knew that the area was experiencing heavy rains. He got on the W4HTP repeater, which was surprisingly not busy, put out his call to see if anyone needed assistance and immediately received a number of responses from hams in the flooded areas. Since that time, he and the other net controls handled hundreds of health and welfare calls, maintaining continuous communications with the areas of Western North Carolina most seriously affected.

Not only was the net professionally run as it passed health and welfare traffic but it maintained a personal touch, bringing news, hope and encouragement to those in the affected areas. Through the efforts of the repeater’s owner, Harold Perry, W4HTP, listeners from across the country were able to hear the repeater's traffic as it was re-broadcast through the web service, Broadcastify. Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL, who was active on the repeater, also provided in-person coverage from Western North Carolina on his website QRPer.com

Hurricane Helene produced a path of destruction for nearly 800 miles from Florida’s Big Bend to Asheville North Carolina and farther north, leaving over 180 dead and hundreds more missing. The aftermath of this Category 4 hurricane brought flood waters of historic proportions and spawned more than 50 tornadoes in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and nearby states.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS; MT MITCHELL REPEATER W4HTP; QRPer.COM; NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

**
BROADCAST STATIONS HIT HARD BY HURRICANE HELENE

NEIL/ANCHOR: Just as Hurricane Francine had done two weeks earlier in Louisiana, Hurricane Helene knocked numerous broadcast stations off the air -- this time, in a number of US southern states. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has that report.

KENT: Hurricane Helene, which had a death toll of over 180 and caused landslides, flooding and power outages, also knocked nearly 50 broadcast radio and TV stations off the air by Sunday, September 29th in a number of Southern states. Radio stations took the more severe hit, cutting off one source of critical emergency broadcasts.

Based on outage data received after the storm made landfall in Florida on September 26th, the FCC's Disaster Information Reporting System looked at broadcast stations in Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, where the storm passed through. Forty-eight broadcast stations - both AM and FM - were knocked off the air while 6 TV stations were reported as having gone dark. Georgia took a particularly severe hit with 3 TV stations, 19 FM radio stations and 3 AM radio stations out of service. North and South Carolina also suffered major broadcast station outages.
According to The Desk, an industry website, most stations went off the air because they had lost power. Others reported transmitter damage as the cause.

The multi-state scene was a larger replay of what happened two weeks earlier in Louisiana, when at least five radio stations were knocked off the air after Hurricane Francine, a Category 2 storm, struck the region.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(FCC; THEDESK.NET)

**
WILDERNESS PROTOCOL AIDS RESCUE IN BACKCOUNTRY IDAHO

NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams' ability to follow the Wilderness Protocol proved lifesaving for one injured man in the hilly backcountry of Idaho. George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU has that story.

GEORGE: In January of 2023, Clearwater County Emergency Management's Don Gardner, W7PJ, gave a presentation to other members of the Clearwater Valley Amateur Radio Club about Wilderness Protocol, a method of monitoring frequencies outside repeater range in case emergencies occur in remote areas unserved by regular means of communication. That protocol was kicked swiftly into action for a group of hams on September 21st, after one of them found a severely injured man who had apparently suffered an accident on a gravel road with his four-wheeled off-road vehicle. According to a report in the Clearwater Tribune, Mac W7ENZ, found the man and while he tried to assist him, handed the ham radio he was carrying to Ed K7ELC. Ed called for assistance using 146.520 MHz, the VHF simplex radio frequency designated for Wilderness Protocol. Greg, WX7Z, heard the call and phoned 911. Don told Newsline that Greg knows the area well and was able to give specific directions for EMS and other responders to follow to reach the man. Greg also recommended a landing site for transportation by Life Flight.

Don told Newsline that the injured man, who had difficulty breathing, was in serious condition and transported by Life Flight to a hospital. He was determined to have suffered head injuries, a broken collarbone and broken ribs.

Don told the Clearwater Tribune: [quote] "The more that ham radio operators listen to the radio, the more the chance there is that someone will be listening to take your emergency call." [endquote]

This is George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU

(DON GARDNER, W7PJ; CLEARWATER TRIBUNE)

**
MILESTONE: IARU HANDLES 1,000TH REQUEST FOR AMATEUR SATELLITE FREQUENCY

NEIL/ANCHOR: The International Amateur Radio Union, which coordinates the radio frequencies used by ham radio satellites, announced that it recently processed request number 1,000 for a satellite frequency. The IARU's Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel has faced new challenges in recent years with the increasing popularity and growth of CubeSats. With less onerous costs to launch these small satellites, the focus has been on carefully managing the spectrum and ensuring minimal interference with terrestrial services. The IARU issued a statement saying: [quote] "As Earth's orbit becomes more crowded, the IARU's work in frequency coordination will remain critical for future missions." [endquote]

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

**
SILENT KEYS: SRI LANKAN NOTABLES, VASANTH GURUGE, 4S7VG; SADEEPA SEPALA, 4S6SAD

NEIL/ANCHOR: The Sri Lankan amateur community has suffered the loss of two prominent, well-regarded amateurs, who became Silent Keys one day apart. We have that report from Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

JASON: It did not take long for Vasanth Guruge, 4S7VG, to make a name for himself among prominent DXers not long after receiving his licence in the mid-1970s. He was also devoted to making amateur radio better for all involved Sri Lankans. His devotion to that mission landed him twice in the role of president of the Radio Society of Sri Lanka - first from 2005 to 2007 and again from 2015 to 2016. The radio society referred to him as a [quote] "cornerstone of the Sri Lankan amateur radio community" [endquote] His many efforts included the establishment of key repeater stations at sites in Sri Lanka that improved communication and connectivity. The radio society statement said: [quote] "He was always willing to lend his time, knowledge, and resources, whether it was tuning duplexers or offering technical advice. Vasanth was not just a leader but a dear friend, mentor, and guiding force for many." [endquote] Vasanth, who died on the 15th of September, was 70.

Sri Lankan amateurs learned that one day earlier, on the 14th of September, Sadeepa Sepala, 4S6SAD, became a Silent Key. Sadeepa was a dependable mentor to operators utilizing the digital modes or the Automatic Packet Reporting System. He was, above all, a kind and respected mentor, according to the radio society website, which praised him for sharing his wide knowledge of astronomy, antenna theory, and radio science with hams and university undergraduates. He took a particular interest in encouraging young students to embrace radio science. The society said on the website: "His passing has left us all in shock."

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(RSSL; 425 DX BULLETIN)

**
SILENT KEY: DEWAYNE HENDRICKS, WA8DZP

NEIL/ANCHOR: A well-known entrepreneur who had a lifelong fascination with all things wireless has become a Silent Key. We hear about him from Jack Parker W8ISH.

JACK: Dewayne Hendricks, WA8DZP, believed in the versatility of radios and the people who love to use them. A licensed ham since the age of 12, he enjoyed tinkering with wireless in its many forms starting in his teens. Much later in life - in business - he acquired the nickname, "The Broadband Cowboy," from Wired Magazine, in a nod to his work in helping bring wireless broadband networks to nations around the world where they were needed.

Dewayne became a Silent Key on the 20th of September. His longtime friend, Steve Stroh, N8GNJ, publisher of the "Zero Retries" weekly newsletter, said that his death came one month after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

His activity in the wireless world was all-encompassing. He played a major role on the Grants Advisory Committee of Amateur Radio Digital Communications for three years, helping to ensure that a number of international projects received funding. According to the ARDC, he took particular pride in the Slippers2Sat project in Nepal which connected marginalized students with opportunities in space technology. Dewayne later followed up on the progress of many funded projects as an inaugural member of the Grants Evaluation Team.

His deep involvement in the wireless community also included posts he held with a number of nonprofit national amateur radio organizations. He had been a member of the FCC's Technological Advisory Council and a director of the Wireless Communications Alliance, an industry group representing companies making equipment for the license-free frequencies.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(ARDC, ZERO RETRIES)

**
BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including D-STAR Reflector 91C on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. local time in Melbourne, Australia.


**
RADIO TELESCOPE SITE TO REOPEN AS SCIENCE EDUCATION CENTER

NEIL/ANCHOR: In Puerto Rico, the site where the iconic Arecibo radio telescope once stood is being readied for a new role in the world of science. Andy Morrison K9AWM explains what's coming next.

ANDY: Arecibo C3, the US National Science Foundation's educational science center, is preparing for a full opening soon at the site where the legendary Arecibo Observatory reigned until damages suffered in 2020 compelled the radio telescope's dismantling.

The new facility in Puerto Rico is formally known as the NSF Arecibo Center for Culturally Relevant and Inclusive Science Education, Computational Skills, and Community Engagement. According to its website, the center is building on the legacy of the radio telescope, serving as an epicenter of STEM education research and skill building. Conferences, meetings and workshops will be held there along with public science programs.

An assistant director of the science foundation, James L. Moore III, said in a public statement that the center will embrace all ranges of science from astronomy and radio science to biology, computer science and natural science. Students and educators visited the center this past summer to attend some of the programs that were launched on a pilot basis.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(IFL SCIENCE, ARECIBO C3 WEBSITE)

**

RUSSIA, BELARUS, ELIGIBLE AGAIN FOR CQ-SPONSORED CONTEST AWARDS

NEIL/ANCHOR: CQ World Wide contests have announced a return to a practice regarding award eligibility. We have those details from Sel Embee KB3TZD.

SEL: Following meetings with contest directors and World Wide Radio Operators Foundation leadership, the organizers of CQ World Wide contests have restored eligibility for awards to qualifying amateurs from Russia and Belarus. That policy change took effect during the weekend of the CQ World Wide RTTY contest, which took place on the 28th and 29th of September.

CQ World Wide Contest Director John Dorr, K1AR, announced on the contest blog that the elimination of those operators' eligibility for award plaques -- a decision made two years ago -- was never formally incorporated into any contest rules; it was merely a policy statement. That policy is no longer in effect, bringing the contests into alignment with so many other competitions around the world.

This is Sel Embee K-B-3-T-Zed-D.

(CQ WW CONTEST BLOG)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for Markus, DJ4EL, operating as A5/DJ4EL from the islands of Benidorm, Escombreras, and Tabarca, all part of IOTA group number EU-093, from the 17th through to the 25th of October. See QRZ.com for QSL and operating details.

Find Aldir, PY1SAD, active as 8R1TM from Georgetown, Guyana between the 12th of October and the 24th of November. He will be using CW, SSB and digital modes on all bands. He will also be operating satellite. For QSL information, see QRZ.com.

Bo, OZ1DJJ [Oh Zed One Dee Jay Jay] is using the callsign OX3LX [Oh X Three L X] from Greenland until the 15th of October. For QSL and operating details see QRZ.com

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: A QSO TO REMEMBER, 100 YEARS LATER

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our final story begins 100 years ago. In October of 1924, a young radio enthusiast in North London, England and a sheep farmer in New Zealand changed the shape of the world via radio with a remarkable on-air contact. Now, amateur stations are getting ready to celebrate that QSO's centennial. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF tells us what's going on.

JIM: Hams in the UK and New Zealand are getting ready to activate special callsigns to mark the first trans-global two-way radio communication and will be operating from the locations where it happened: the Mill Hill School in North London where young Cecil Goyder, G2SZ, made radio contact with Frank Bell, Z4AA, a ham in Shag Valley, Otago. The date of the hour-long CW contact was the 18th of October 1924.

Here is the voice of the late Frank Bell, who in 1974 recalled that day on the occasion of the QSO's 50th anniversary: [insert clip starting at 1:29] "We were both a bit shocked I suppose, really, and Cecil Goyder, whom I was talking to in Mill Hill School near London, he said he was a bit skeptical about it, he said if you are really New Zealand 4AA, cable. Which we did and from then on pretty well every night, for several nights running, we kept in touch." [end clip]

Cecil's callsign will be back on the air in hopes of contacting hams around the world as operators call CQ from the school from the 14th through to the 20th of October. Frank's original callsign has been modified to ZL4AA for the New Zealand operation which will be on the air from the 12th through to the 20th of October.

The big day, of course, is the 18th of October, when hams will re-enact that first contact, using a frequency as close as possible to the 1924 original, which was around 92 metres).

Meanwhile, be listening as well for other stations taking part in the celebration: GB2NZ is on the air through the 26th of October 2024 throughout the UK. ZM100DX is on the air through the 26th of December throughout New Zealand. The New Zealand station will be using CW, SSB and a number of other modes. The QSL manager for all four special-event calls is MØOXO [M Zero Oh Ex Oh].

See GB2NZ dot com (GB2NZ.com) for further details.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(NZNET NEWS, RSGB)

**
HAIKU FOR YOU

Don't forget the Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. If you're not too busy tuning your antennas or chasing the latest DXpedition, pick up a pencil and share your experience by sending an original haiku to us here at Newsline. Use the entry form on our website, arnewsline.org and please follow the rules for writing your three-line haiku -- sorry but we cannot accept any entries that aren't written in traditional haiku form. Share with fellow listeners the poetry that is inspired by your ham radio experience!

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly; AMSAT News Service; Arecibo C3 website; Associated Press; Amateur Radio Digital Communications; ARRL; Clearwater Tribune; CQ WorldWide Contest Blog; David Behar K7DB; TheDesk.net; Don Gardner, W7PJ; FCC; 425DXNews; IFL Science; Mt. Mitchell Repeater; National Hurricane Center; NZ Net Newsletter; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Great Britain; QRPer.com; Radio Society of Sri Lanka; shortwaveradio.de; Zero Retries; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its continued operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union Kentucky saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.

Amateur Radio and Robot Play Ball!

Biggest solar flare since 2017 erupts from sun and Earth is in the firing line (video)

The sun has just unleashed its most powerful solar flare this cycle, a colossal X-class eruption. 

The X9.05 solar flare peaked at 8:10 a.m. EDT (1210 GMT), triggering shortwave radio blackouts over Africa and Europe, the sunlit portion of Earth at the time of eruption. 

The solar flare emanated from the sunspot group AR3842, which has made headlines before. On Oct. 1, the same sunspot region fired off a powerful X7.1 solar flare and unleashed a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a plume of plasma and magnetic field — which is currently barreling toward Earth. 

Digital Bumper Sticker Tells Everyone What You’re Listening To

Bumper stickers are usually political, crude, or otherwise inflammatory. Rather a more fun example is this digital creation from [Guy Dupont], who made a bumper sticker that broadcasts what he’s listening to on the stereo.

[Guy] found a nice wide 11-inch bar LCD that was the right aspect ratio to suit the “bumper sticker” aesthetic. It had an HDMI interface, so he decided to drive it with a Raspbery Pi Zero 2W. Power for the system was derived from 12-volt lines going to his vehicle’s rear view camera. For an enclosure, he simply stuck the Pi and a buck converter on the back of the display and heat shrinked the whole thing. He also threw some magnets in there to stick it to the car.

How does the screen know what song to display? Well, [Guy] already has his Spotify listens scrobbling to Last.fm. Thus, he just made a script that scrapes his Last.fm page, which runs on a Particle Boron microcontroller, which has a cellular connection of its own. The Boron gets the song data, and spits it over to the Pi via Bluetooth. Then the Pi generates an image for the display.

Oh, and there’s also a neat Easter Egg. In honor of brat summer, the background changes to #8ACE00 green if the system detects you’re listening to Charli XCX. Neat.

It’s a neat build with a lot of moving parts. We’re surprised we haven’t seen anything like this before though, it’s really rather fun. Also, how’s about that taste of the old Internet—when was the last time you heard somebody mention scrobbling? Gosh, we’re getting old.

We’ve featured some of [Guy’s] works before, too, like the amusing Mailblocks project. Video after the break.

THURSDAY EDITION: It still looks good for the new Nearfest at New Boston, NH. I will pass, it's a 2 hour drive and I have nothing to sell or need to buy. I would like to see my ham friends but I can do that at HRO at one of the lunch sessions....Ham video on ham s helping in NC

Forget cell phones -- amateur radio shines in the wake of Helene

WEDNESDAY EDITION: Different forecast for the hamfest this weekend,,,oops.....

In times of devastation many turn to old school tech to keep communication lines open

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (WBTV) - A major problem in the wake of Helene has been broken lines of communications.

Cellular service in the affected areas is spotty at best and there’s even been reports of radio stations being knocked off the air. But thanks to old school technology, people who are in need of information can still get it through HAM radio.

It’s a vital link during a critical time.

“These are all areas that have been hit extremely hard,” Dan Gitro said.

The damage is widespread and overwhelming, and when the communications go dark because of power outages many turn to old school tech to keep the information pipeline flowing.

“In times like this, this is where HAMS really shine,” said Gitro.

Gitro has been a HAM radio operator for years spending most of his time talking to people all around the world. But during the crisis going on in our western counties…his attention is laser-focused.

“We are passing information in and out of the affected areas in western North Carolina right now for family members looking for loved ones looking relatives in the affected areas,” Gitro said.

This back bedroom in Dan’s house has become the central command center for any and all information for those who found themselves in the path of Helene.

“Our communication with them on the radio is vital,” Gitro explained.

From his chair, Gitro monitors and relays stories and needs of the hardest-hit areas. Some of what he hears is simply heartbreaking.”

“Bees Creek, that area has been literally been wiped off the map,” the HAM operator told us.

HAM operators notify local officials who can affect a more precise and rapid rescue or recovery effort than they would be able to do otherwise.

“A lot of people have just gone ahead and evacuated,” could be heard over the HAM chatter.

But in talking with many on air Tuesday afternoon, not all intentions are honorable.

“There is definitely looting going on in the Swannanoa area unfortunately,” said Ed, a radio operator in Swannanoa.

But the majority of the people showing up are there to help and not harm as HAM operators take the reigns directing people where to go to find the greatest need.

“People were lucky to survive and we’re still in survival mode because the waters haven’t receded yet,” Gitro said.

And it may be days before some of these areas are to be even accessible. Those radio operators say they’ll stay on air until the job is done.

Universe as We Know It May End Sooner Than Expected

The ‘Sombrero Potential’ as seen with the Higgs mechanism.

One of the exciting aspects of some fields of physics is that they involve calculating the expected time until the Universe ends or experiences fundamental shifts that would render most if not all of the ‘laws of physics’ invalid. Within the Standard Model (SM), the false vacuum state is one such aspect, as it implies that the Universe’s quantum fields that determine macrolevel effects like mass can shift through quantum field decay into a lower, more stable state. One such field is the Higgs field, which according to a team of researchers may decay sooner than we had previously assumed.

As the Higgs field (through the Higgs boson) is responsible for giving particles mass, it’s not hard to imagine the chaos that would ensue if part of the Higgs field were to decay and cause a spherical ripple effect throughout the Universe. Particle masses would change, along with all associated physics, as suddenly the lower Higgs field state means that everything has significantly more mass. To say that it would shake up the Universe would an understatement.

Of course, this expected time-to-decay has only shifted from 10794 years to 10790 years with the corrections to the  previous calculations as provided in the paper by [Pietro Baratella] and colleagues, and they also refer to it as ‘slightly shorter’. A sidenote here is also that the electroweak vacuum’s decay is part of the imperfect SM, which much like the false vacuum hypothesis are part of these models, and not based on clear empirical evidence (yet).

TUESDAY EDITION: I wonder if the newly located Nearfest is starting  a tradition of always being sunny and nice unlike the always rainy and cold Deerfield venue? The weather looks great for this weekend.....

Helene - Storm Updates

Candidate for ARRL Northwestern Division Director Disqualified; Tharp Declared Elected

MONDAY EDITION: The weather forecast for the NeARFEST ham event this Friday and Saturday still looks perfect....

ARISS – Talk with Astronauts
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is an international program that lets students use amateur (ham) radio to talk directly with crew members living and working on the International Space Station. ARISS supports hands-on learning about radio and electronics and has organized live events, called contacts, that connect students to the Space Station. Talking with an astronaut is an exciting and memorable way for students to apply the science and skills they learn through this program. These experiences inspire engagement in STEM studies and interest in STEM careers.

In preparation for a contact, students choose their questions and practice using proper protocol and enunciation for clear communication over ham radio. Recent contacts took place at schools in France, Greece, India, and Russia. A few contacts have even used digital amateur television (HamTV).

Schools can submit proposals to ARISS to arrange direct contacts, where a ham radio at the school connects to the ISS, or telebridge contacts, where the school connects through telephone to a ham radio ground station linked to the ISS.

ARISS – Radio Experimenters Kit
Students use simple radio communications equipment to send messages to and from the ISS. For the radio, they use software running on a computer, in a system called software defined radio (SDR). They also use a small hand-held antenna, that they point at the ISS when it flies over. They learn about radios, communication, software, ISS, orbital tracks and related STEM fields. They need a ham radio license (or an affliation with a local ham) to send messages, but can receive with no license.   LINK

How to stay in touch when the grid goes down: ham radio, Wi-Fi, and other lifelines during disasters

We were spared, but many of our friends were not. You know what I’m talking about—Hurricane Helene. Last week, Helene ravaged Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It’s hard to see the images and videos of the devastation. Many areas will never be the same. There’s a good chance many of you have friends in the affected areas. As I write this article, recovery efforts are underway.

Before the storm came ashore on Thursday, September 26, we double-checked our preparations here at home in Fayette County. Based on the stock levels at local stores, it looks like many of you made preparations ahead of time, and that’s good. Two months ago, I shared my thoughts about emergency preparations, and it’s worth a read (or re-read). It’s important to have the essentials covered ahead of time.

During the night of 9/26 and the early morning hours of 9/27, I was running a radio net for Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) as a volunteer with the Georgia AuxComm program. Part of my job was to take field reports that came in over the radio. As I worked my radio, I also monitored two systems designed for emergency response personnel—WebEOC, which is used for coordination between emergency management agencies in Georgia, and NWSChat, which is used by the National Weather Service to communicate with various partner organizations. Both systems are restricted “back channel” methods of communication and coordination. I experienced two emotions as I watched the reports come in.   STORY

Volunteers – The Heart and Soul of ARRL Headquarters

WEEKEND EDITION: The weather forecast for the NeARFEST ham event this Friday and Saturday looks perfect......Thanks Joe-WPO for the surprise in the mail....

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

**
GREENCUBE MISSION ENDS, RADIATION DAMAGE SUSPECTED

DON/ANCHOR: Our top story this week is the demise of the GreenCube satellite. It was loved and well-used by avid DXers and DXpeditioners as well as those making more casual satellite contacts. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us what happened.

JEREMY: The popular GreenCube satellite, IO-117, is no longer functioning - the result of what is believed to be radiation damage suffered in Medium Earth Orbit.

The satellite, which is owned by the Italian Space Agency, was developed by S5LAB at Sapienza University of Rome. S5LAB attempted to send commands to reactivate it earlier this month after it suffered a communication blackout, according to a report by AMSAT News Service. The team is not optimistic that GreenCube can be restored to service.

S5LAB acknowledged that high radiation exposure can be an issue in Medium Earth Orbit, adding that it was unclear whether GreenCube would have a successor. The AMSAT report said that GreenCube is not the only Medium Earth Orbit satellite that has been affected by radiation levels. It was the first satellite in Medium Earth Orbit to carry an amateur radio payload.
 
S5LAB and AMSAT-Italia expect to hold a webinar about GreenCube's mission, which it said exceeded all expectations the team had for it when it was launched in July of 2022.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(AMSAT NEWS, AMSAT-UK)

**
US LAWMAKERS WAIT TO VOTE ON AM RADIO LEGISLATION

DON/ANCHOR: In Washington, DC, public-safety legislation awaits an important vote: The proposed law would require all passenger cars sold in the US to continue to make AM radio available. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has that story.

KENT: The US House of Representatives is expected to consider a measure that mandates AM radio in all new cars sold in the US, whether they are manufactured domestically or imported. The bill, known as the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act, moved to the full floor for lawmakers' consideration following a 45-2 vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Observers say that a House vote could happen as early as the next few weeks before the US elections take place in November -- or it would be delayed.

The US Senate version of the bill has already been approved by that chamber's Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. It still awaits a full floor vote but has a majority of lawmakers supporting it on both sides of the aisle.

The issue of AM radio's necessity in vehicles has escalated the debate over public safety, as proponents such as the National Association of Broadcasters and federal emergency officials have advocated in favor retaining AM radio for its public-safety role, especially when carrying alerts in rural areas.

Some manufacturers of electric cars are looking to eliminate AM radio from their vehicles, claiming that RF interference from their cars' electronic systems compromises AM radio reception.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIOWORLD.COM)

**
NEW ZEALAND YL GROUP ENDS FORMAL OPERATION

DON/ANCHOR: After a few years of struggling with membership issues, a New Zealand group for YLs has dropped its formal operation. We hear the details from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

JIM: New Zealand's Women Amateur Radio Operators group has ceased to exist. After attempting to survive some troubled years, the organisation's executive committee voted in 2020 to go into recess, citing a lack of support from the membership.

According to the website of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters, the group's creation in 1962 arose from a need to address special requirements of YLs at a time when very few female licensees were on the air.

An announcement in YL Harmonics, the bimonthly newsletter of the YLRL, confirms that the group will exist now only for social purposes and will retain its callsign ZL6YL. Ngaire Jury, ZL2UJT, wrote in the newsletter that a vote was taken to continue with social activities without any fees. The new group has adopted the name, the NZ YL Group.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(YLRL HARMONICS)

**
SUNITA WILLIAMS, KD5PLB, TAKES OVER COMMAND OF ISS

DON/ANCHOR: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, has taken the helm of the International Space Station as its new commander as she and fellow crew member, Butch Wilmore, await their return to Earth in February 2025. The pair's mission aboard the ISS was supposed to last only eight days following their arrival via Boeing's Starliner, but complications with the spacecraft delayed their departure and Starliner returned to Earth crewless. By the time the duo returns home aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, they will have been in space eight months. This is Williams’ second time as commander of the ISS.

(SPACE.COM)

**
SILENT KEY: IARU REGION 3 CO-ORGANIZER PETE WILLIAMS, FORMER VK3IZ

DON/ANCHOR: A notable pioneer who helped create the IARU Region 3 organization has become a Silent Key. We hear about him from Graham Kemp VK4BB.

GRAHAM: Having secured his amateur licence in the wake of World War II, Pete Williams, the former VK3IZ, wasted no time in immersing himself in service to the amateur radio community. By the late '60s and early '70s, he was devoting his efforts to the Wireless Institute of Australia. Casting his eye more broadly, he also joined with a small team of other Australian amateurs to propose and establish Region 3 of the International Amateur Radio Union. As a businessman, Pete and other radio colleagues cofounded the Vicom company, importing Icom radios and other ham radio products.
A lifelong fan of radio restorations, Pete paired that talent with his love of military communications technology, especially the legendary Collins R-390 receiver. He restored and resold many of them over the years, along with the S-line and other models.
With his hearing and eyesight posing challenges later in life, Pete let his licence lapse a few years ago. The callsign he had held for more than 70 years was acquired by another amateur in 2023.
Pete, who became a Silent Key on Saturday September 14th, was 94. Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, editor in chief of Amateur Radio magazine, told Newsline that a longer article about Pete and his life will appear in the magazine's next issue.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB

(ROGER HARRISON, VK2ZRH)

**
NEED TO WORK WYOMING? COME AND GET IT

DON/ANCHOR: If you're hoping for an easy contact with Wyoming for any number of awards, you'd better act fast. Patrick Clark K8TAC tells us why.

PATRICK: In case you're one state shy of Worked All States, and in case that one state happens to be Wyoming, look no farther than the W7Y special event. The Shy-Wy Amateur Radio Club has organized this annual event, which it calls "Come and Get Wyoming." Whether you're a DX station or here in the US, if you need a Wyoming contact on a specific band or in a certain mode, this is your chance. Hams throughout Wyoming have been volunteering at least an hour of their time since the 21st of September to make sure as many contacts can be made before the event ends on Monday the 30th of the month. QSL details and a little history of the W7Y special event can be found on QRZ.com - while there's still time!

This is Patrick Clark K8TAC.

(QRZ.COM)

**
HAMSCI RESEACHER REPORTS ON SPACE-WEATHER MONITOR TOOL

DON/ANCHOR: If you're an avid space-weather observer, this report from Sel Embee KB3TZD is for you.

SEL: Scientists and amateur radio operators are proud to announce that a member of the HamSCI scientific team has released a research paper that delves into the development of a low-cost magnetometer system permitting coordinated space-weather monitoring. The author of the paper, Dr. Hyomin Kim, PhD, KD2MCR, is an assistant professor of physics at the Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research, a component of New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Institute for Space Weather Sciences.

The paper is a key example of how HamSCI's work melds the world of professional research with the activities of amateur radio operators. A magnetometer measures changes and anomalies in the magnetic atmosphere of the earth.

For a link to the paper, see the text version of this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org.

**

APRS FOUNDATION SEEKS SUPPORT THROUGH MEMBERSHIP

DON/ANCHOR: The APRS Foundation is encouraging hams to become members and help keep the dream and hard work of a prominent Silent Key alive and thriving. Neil Rapp WB9VPG tells us what membership is expected to accomplish.

NEIL: When Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, became a Silent Key in February of 2022, he left behind the legacy of the Automatic Packet Reporting System, APRS, which the pioneering amateur had developed. The APRS Foundation was formed later that same year to ensure that APRS would be preserved and advanced so it could continue its vital role enabling real-time tracking over the amateur frequencies.

Hams are now able to support the APRS Foundation by becoming members. The $20 membership helps with the foundation's operating costs and assists in the continuation of Bob's work. The foundation also encourages participation online in APRS@groups.io and the APRS special interest group email reflector.

The foundation's president, Jeff Hochberg, W4JEW, writes on the foundation website that continued engagement of amateurs will help APRS out of what he describes as a "precarious position."  Jeff writes [quote] "While there are undoubtedly thousands of APRS users worldwide, the number doesn’t seem to grow as it used to." [endquote].

For more details about the foundation, visit aprsfoundation dot org (aprsfoundation.org)

This is Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

(AMATEUR RADIO WEEKLY, APRSFOUNDATION.ORG)

**
ORIENTEERING ENTHUSIASTS PREP FOR CHAMPIONSHIP

DON/ANCHOR: If you enjoy amateur radio direction-finding, Chelsea, Michigan is the place to be for you in early October. Dave Parks WB8ODF tells us why.

DAVE: Yes, there's a trophy at stake here - it's known as the Paul Bunyan trophy - but this transmitter-hunting contest is not just for fun. The 12th IARU Region 2 / 23rd ARRL USA Radio Orienteering Championship engages skills that are useful in spectrum management, search and rescue and animal tracking, among other applications. The hosting group is the Southern Michigan Orienteering Club and ham radio clubs throughout the southeastern part of the state.

From the 5th to the 13th of October, competitors will venture out into the woods in search of hidden transmitters in the Chelsea, Michigan area for an intense period of radio orienteering, also known as amateur radio direction finding. A training camp will be held before the event, led by top radio orienteers Charles Scharlau, NZØI, and Nadia Scharlau, KO4ADV. The training camp will take place on the 5th and 6th of October and beginners are welcome.

The event director, Joseph Burkhead, KE8MKR, says on the competition's website that no matter where you're at in your journey in radio and navigation sports, there will be challenges for you.

For details visit the website radioorienteeringchamps dot us - that's radioorenteeringchamps - one word - dot us (radioorienteeringchamps.us

This is Dave Parks WB8ODF

(RADIO ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE)

**
VINTAGE RAILWAY TO SHOWCASE TELEGRAPHY IN NEW ZEALAND

DON/ANCHOR: In New Zealand, two telegraph offices are springing back into action to demonstrate the best of a bygone era. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF gives us those details.

JIM: Although the date may be the 26th of October 2024, it may just as well be in the era of steam train travel as on that day ham radio operators bring telegraph offices back to life on the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. It will be Labour Weekend but it will also be Morse Code Day as visitors ride the steam train between Glenbrook and Waiuku and learn how messages can travel efficiently too, ham radio style. Visitors at Glenbrook will have an opportunity to have Neil ZL1NZ and Paul ZL1AJY send a telegram to Waiuku before they get on board to travel to the other station. Upon arrival at Waiuku, visitors may collect their telegram and send a reply via operators Martin ZL1MDE and Peter ZL1PX. The Franklin Amateur Radio Club is hoping to cultivate an appreciation for what was once the main form of radio communication back when steam trains ruled the rails.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(QUA, THE FRANKLIN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB NEWSLETTER)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for special event station GB2ZL in Scotland operating CW from the 1st to the 28th of October marking the centennial of the first amateur radio contact between Great Britain and New Zealand. The actual anniversary date is the 18th of October, 1924. QSL via LoTW only. See QRZ.com for more details.

Dale, W4AUV and Bob, K4RLC will operate from St. Kitts, IOTA Number NA-104, from the 1st to the 12th of October. Dale, operating as V4/W4AUV, will be using mainly CW on 40m. Bob, using the callsign V4/K4RLC, will be operating QRP CW on 20 metres from the island's three POTA sites. QSL via LoTW.

Expect to hear Gunter, DK2WH on the air from Namibia as V51WH until early November. Gunter is operating from a farm near Omaruru. Listen for him on 160-10m, including 60m. He will also participate in the CQ WorldWide RTTY and SSB contests as V55Y. See QRZ.com for more details.

Fred, DH5FS, is operating holiday style on various HF bands as E6FS from Niue, IOTA Number OC-040, until the 30th of September. QSL via his home call.

(425 DX BULLETIN, WIA)

**
KICKER: A HEALTHY DOSE OF EYEBALL QSOS HAS BENEFITS

DON/ANCHOR: Our final story takes a look at eyeball QSOs - those in-person visits we love so much. True, there are no QSL cards but there may be other benefits, as we hear from Randy Sly W4XJ.

RANDY: It's no secret that amateur radio can be good for your health. The Radio Society of Great Britain and the UK's National Health Service teamed up at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to launch Get on the Air to Care, a program to decrease social isolation and improve mental well-being, as hams reached out to hams to check on one another.

Only a few years later, Grouper, a wellness advocacy company here in the US, has partnered with the ARRL with a somewhat similar intent: While the ARRL has always encouraged lots of QSOs, Grouper encourages - indeed, Grouper actually rewards - lots of eyeball QSOs. Think of this program as a way to "Care While You're Off the Air."

Originally founded as Element3 Health, the Boston company's recent name-change to Grouper reflects its accelerated desire to help people achieve so-called "social fitness" through in-person interaction. Grouper says it is tackling the health crisis of social isolation and loneliness - formally declared to be an epidemic last year the US Surgeon General. The ARRL-Grouper partnership, in this case, focuses on older radio amateurs who are enrolled in Medicare, under either the Medicare Advantage or one of the Medicare Supplement plans. Eligible hams 65 and older who can prove they are active in in-person amateur radio activities  may have some of their dues and other activity costs covered under the program.

The ARRL said in a press release that it hopes the new program will [quote] "enhance the health of ARRL members by providing acess to benefits that support staying active and engaged." [endquote] It also shows that not all lasting connections made in amateur radio are necessarily only ones that have been soldered.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

(ARRL, GROUPER, RSGB)

Portable Multi-SDR Rig Keeps Your Radios Cool

With as cheap and versatile as RTL-SDR devices are, it’s a good idea to have a couple of them on hand for some rainy day hacking. In fact, depending on what signals you’re trying to sniff out of the air, you may need multiple interfaces anyway. Once you’ve amassed this arsenal of software defined radios, you may find yourself needing a way to transport and deploy them. Luckily, [Jay Doscher] has you covered.

His latest creation, the SDR SOLO, is a modular system for mounting RTL-SDRs. Each dongle is encased in its own 3D printed frame, which not only protects it, but makes it easy to attach to the base unit. To keep the notoriously toasty radios cool, each frame has been designed to maximize airflow. You can even mount a pair of 80 mm fans to the bottom of the stack to really get the air moving. The current design is based around the RTL-SDR Blog V4, but could easily be adapted to your dongle of choice.

In addition to the row of SDR dongles, the rig also includes a powered USB hub. Each radio connects to the hub via a short USB cable, which means that you’ll only need a single USB cable running back to your computer. There’s also various mounts and adapters for attaching antennas to the system. Stick it all on the end of a tripod, and you’ve got a mobile radio monitoring system that’ll be the envy of the hackerspace.

As we’ve come to expect, [Jay] put a lot of thought and effort into the CAD side of this project. Largely made of 3D printed components, his projects often feature a rugged and professional look that really stands out.

Foxboro family makes worldwide connections with ham radio

THURSDAY EDITION: I finished hooking up the plow on the truck yesterday, just in case this winter....The all new Nearfest at a new location is coming uip quick, I am sure it will be a successful event rain or shine.....

ARRL Systems Service Disruption

Another incredible story

Lithium-Ion Battery Hotswapping, Polarity, Holders

Everyone loves, and should respect, lithium-ion batteries. They pack a ton of power and can make our projects work better. I’ve gathered a number of tips and tricks about using them over the years, based on my own hacking and also lessons I’ve learned from others.

This installment includes a grab-bag of LiIon tricks that will help you supercharge your battery use, avoid some mistakes, and make your circuits even safer. Plus, I have a wonderful project that I just have to share.

Hot-swapping Cells

When your device runs out of juice, you might not always want to chain yourself to a wall charger. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could just hot-swap cells? Indeed it is, I’ve been doing it for years, it’s dead simple to support, but you can also do it wrong. Let me show you how to do it right!

Recently, a new handheld has hit the hacker markets – the Hackberry Pi. With a Blackberry keyboard and a colour screen, it’s a pretty standard entry into the trend of handheld Pi Zero-backed computers with Blackberry keyboards. It’s not open-source and the author does not plan to open-source its hardware, so I want to make it absolutely clear I don’t consider it hacker-friendly or worth promoting. It did publish schematics, though, and these helped me find a dangerous mistake that the first revision made when trying to implement LiIon battery hot-swap.

This is not how you connect batteries in parallel,

It uses BL-5C cells, which are widely available as aftermarket batteries for Nokia phones. It’s a smart choice, though it’s worth remembering that vendors constantly inflate the capacity on the label, and my gut feel is that the more inflated the number is, the more shady the cell you’re getting. Remember, there’s a physical limit to the capacity you can shove into a certain cell volume, with 18650s limited to about 3500 mAh, as the market offerings show. (And if you try to put more capacity into a cell of certain volume, you get the Galaxy Note 7. Ahem.)

The batteries in the Hackberry Pi should be hot-swappable – no supercaps, they’re just in parallel with nothing in between the cells. Nothing in between? Question – what happens when you connect two batteries, one charged and one discharged, in parallel? Remember, LiIon batteries can give out a ton of current, and phone batteries doubly so due to the GSM modem peak current requirements. Decent voltage difference, very low resistance – you get a lot of current flowing, discharging the full cell needlessly or causing a brownout at best, and charring PCB tracks at worst.

but just two more components make it a fair bit better.

The easy solution is to use PTC resettable fuses in series with the positive or negative terminal, either between each cell, or just one between two cells. If current surges sharply, the fuse will heat up and increase its resistance, limiting the current.

But remember, a fuse’s current rating is deceiving, and a 2 A fuse won’t actually trip at exactly 2.1 A. This is beneficial for you, though – while doing hotswap, one cell will have to produce twice the current than normally, even if for a short moment. Also, remember to size the cell protection fuse not just for device consumption, but also the charging current it will receive!

It’s certain that the new Hackberry Pi revision will fix this, and if you have the first revision, just swap batteries carefully and you will be 100% fine. Hotswap doesn’t have to be complicated – now you all know how to do a very simple form of it. Oh, and, having adding the fuse, you can easily get a good few extra features with only a few components, like, say, polarity protection!

The Polarity Hacks

With 18650 holders, it’s easy to insert a cell the wrong way by accident – I’ve burned out a good few boards like that, spending precious hours and dollars replacing burned out components. A 18650 cell holds a ton of energy and can burn out a lot of silicon very easily. Or if you’re using pouch cells using JST-PH connectors, you have to watch out for two polarity conventions. In short, polarity reversal is a real risk. How do you protect from it?

The reverse polarity crowbar circuit is a dead simple way to add polarity protection – all you need is a diode across the battery, placed after the fuse, flipped in a way that it will conduct when the polarity is wrong, tripping the fuse before any circuitry is damaged. The diode’s rating has to be higher than the fuse’s trip point – otherwise, the diode will burn out before the fuse trips, negating the circuit. I’ve tested this, it works, it’s now being manufactured in hundreds.

You might also want the user, whether you or someone else (especially someone else!) to quickly notice that the polarity is flipped. The solution is simple – add a LED and a resistor flipped in a way it lights up when the cell is reversed, before the fuse. Use a red or orange LED to make it crystal clear that something is wrong; don’t use green or blue, or any colours that often mean “the device is working normally”; add silkscreen markings to indicate that this is a “wrong polarity” LED.

Back to cells with JST-PH connectors. Are you developing a project that will get into hackers’ hands, and you don’t want to have them rewire their entire LiIon cell arsenal just for your device? Thankfully, 0 R resistors save the day; it’s dead simple to add two pairs of 0603 0R’s next to a JST-PH 2-pin connector. Make one polarity the default, and leave the option of switching the polarity in there. Again, this goes before the fuse, and before the reverse polarity LED, too. Of course, your users will have to make sure the red wire goes to positive, but at least you’re helping them get there.

This quickly, we have dealt with a number of polarity problems, using barely any components, all of them cheap, no fancy ICs. Your boards deserve to be fail-proof, serving you no matter the mistakes you make.

A New 18650 Holder Enters The Scene

Leaf contact holders are great. Unlike spring holders, they’re low-inductance, high-current, resillient to shocks, reliable, and cheap to find. Unfortunately, the leaf often catches on the cell’s heatshrink ends when you unplug the battery, slowly tearing it off piece by piece, and at some point even causing the positive terminal protective ring to detach – which risks a massive short-circuit as you unplug the battery or just drop the holder hard enough. Not great!

I’ve developed a pretty unique holder for 18650s, that I currently use for a pretty substantial portable device project of mine. It’s got all the advantages of spring holders, but it wraps around the battery fully, protecting it from shocks and the elements, and closes with a twist-on locking cap. Plus, it’s belt-mountable, thanks to a 3D-printed holder. It lends itself wonderfully to hotswap, too! Most of all, it’s fully 3D printable. All you need is some threaded inserts and some leaf contacts from Keystone that I found on Mouser – a baggie with 25 of them is quite cheap, and worth the money. (Remember to scroll through categories for things like battery contacts, you will find cool stuff!) There are definitely drawbacks to this type of holder, but it’s seriously great.

Just a few threaded inserts and screws, and off you go!

It’s parametric, designed in FreeCAD, so you can change a fair few parameters without breaking a sweat. The holder is designed for quick swap – just twist the cap and the battery falls out. Swapping 18650 cells is a cakewalk. High current consumption: tested; portability: tested; not damaging the cell wrappers: tested. I’ve been actively using these holders for about nine months now – they fulfilled their purpose and far more.

There’s something that makes it feel like military equipment, but I can assure you that it’s not designed by the lowest bidder. Put these on a belt, screw these into a project, or slap two of them together back to back – maybe even lengthen it and use three cells in series! Thanks to someone’s advice from Twitter, there are also vent holes at the positive terminal’s place.  (Of course, if your cell starts venting, you have a big problem on your hands no matter what you’re using.) Still, it’s got these holes, in addition to ten other features. And it’s printable vertically with no supports.

Are there possible failure modes? Absolutely. The main one is the cylinder breaking across the layer lines under pressure, especially if you drop it. I’ve tried printing the holder laying down, so that layer lines are aligned differently, but cleaning the tube from internal supports is damn brutal and the tolerances for the 18650 inside are pretty tight. I’m going to pick up a roll of PLA-Plus, since it supposedly is more strong, and print a new set of holders. If you print it, let us know!

Another failure mode is the spring’s compressing over time. I might be overcompressing the metal, so I just ought to check the datasheets and adjust the width. Of course, strong compression is a plus, but it’s of no use if the holder starts being super bump-sensitive after a few months of use. Last but not least, the positive wire is a failure point, though the channel i’ve recently introduced mostly fixes that.

More To Come

There are a few additions in the queue for the v3 holder. One is unifying the threaded inserts so that you don’t have to buy too many different ones, and improving mounting for the belt holster to limit the molten plastic backflow. Another is adding strips on the side that’d be a base for a long metal plate, which would acts as extra backing for the 18650 holder. The only problem is finding a suitable metal plate – flat, 70 mm long, about 4 mm wide, with screw holes alongside, or, at least, on both ends. Anyone have any ideas, especially if it’s something commonly found that can be repurposed?

I’m currently working on a custom PCB for this holder – involving protection, fuse holding, reverse polarity protection and warning LED, and maybe even an opamp circuit for roughly measuring the battery voltage. In short, including all of the tips shared here.

WEDNESDAY EDITION: Coffee and donuts today at the club, stop by if you are in the Gloucester, MA area.....I got on 10 and 15 ssb yesterday and worked a dozen countries with 100 watts, no need for the amplifier. It is really nice to have those bands open.....

Helena - Storm Updates

Handie-Talkie or Walkie-Talkie?  Good story....

TUESDAY EDITION: The above is true with the exception of the uphill in the snow....  Knowing the code is fun and I still put some time in with this mode but lets' face it, we are all appliance ops today. New hams are on FT8 or SSB. The real problem today is not morse code, it's getting some people into hobby of any age....The ARRL division rep talked at our last meeting and said the league is developing and testing a curriculum which adds ham radio to the STEM program at several schools in two NE states (he would not say what states but I think they are CT and NH). The schools are private or charter schools because public education has a set state curriculum, in other words they teach for the test....a test all must pass to graduate. They are more interested in the test and adding fluff curses like music, band, chorus, art, and foreign language...did I say that? They eliminated shop classes and home economics as outdated, stuff you learn on your own with your parents. lol

Apple May Break Into the Hearing Aid Industry

When the entry of a tech giant such as Apple into a market represents its liberation from exploitation, that market must be really broken, yet the reported FDA approval of the hearing aid feature in the latest AirPod earbuds seems to represent just that. The digital hearing aid business is notorious for its sharp sales practices and eye-watering prices, so for all Apple’s own notoriety the news might actually represent a leap forward for consumers in that sector. We have to ask though, if Apple of all people are now the Good Guys, where has the world of electronics gone so badly wrong?

Your grandparents decades ago would have had a simple analogue hearing aid if they had one, usually a small transistor circuit and perhaps with some kind of analogue filtering.  Digital aids with DSP algorithms to pick out speech arrived some time in the 1990s, and from there evolved a market in which their high prices increasingly didn’t match the cost of the technology or software involved. At least in the UK, they were sold aggressively to older people as less cumbersome or better than the National Health Service aids, and if you had an older person in the family it was routine to see pages and pages of targeted junk mail offering dubious financial schemes to pay for them.

The question then, given that a modern hearing aid has a relatively cheap microcontroller and DSP at its heart, why has the open source community not risen to the challenge? The answer is that they have, though the Tympan seems an over-expensive trinket for what it is and the LoCHAid and Open Speech Platform seem to have sunk without trace. Can we do better?

ARRL Section Managers Gather for Training at Headquarters

Kettering University Professor Helping Transform Amateur Radio Education

In December, Dr. Ronald Kumon, Kettering University Associate Professor of Natural Sciences, was awarded the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL) Terrell Teaching Innovation Grant, a $6,000 investment to transform his Physics 224 course into a cutting-edge learning experience. Dr. Kumon’s goal is to integrate wireless technology and amateur radio in ways that excite students and prepare them for future careers in STEM fields. Through the CETL grant, he’s redefining how hands-on learning meets the future of communication technology.

To prepare for the redesigned course, Dr. Kumon attended national conferences, connected with other universities, and collaborated with Kettering alumni to shape a program that sets students up for success. As part of his outreach, Dr. Kumon participated in key amateur radio events and research initiatives, including a solar eclipse radio experiment that gathered critical scientific data.

“My work on the ‘Electricity and Magnetism’ course is focused on placing the traditional content of the course into the context of a topic of contemporary interest, namely wireless technology,” Dr. Kumon said. “I am planning to use amateur radio licensing as an entry point into wireless technology because it will enable students to gain practical skills and a credential that can potentially last a lifetime.”

Students who take the new course will have the chance to earn an amateur radio license — adding a professional credential to their portfolio. With the course set to launch in Fall 2024, Dr. Kumon is already preparing future coursework, labs, and materials, ensuring students don’t just learn — they lead.

MONDAY EDITION: 10-15 meters were open last weekend, lots of dx to be had if that is your thing....I hated to do it but we had the stove burning this weekend to take the chill out...

College Gives You Practical Electronics

While classroom learning isn’t for everyone, one awesome benefit of the Internet is that you have a variety of college classes available to you, even if they aren’t for credit. You can virtually audit classes from institutions around the world on just about any topic you can think of. Of course, the topic we think of is practical electronics and that happens to be the title of a class from [Dr. Bill Newhall] of the University of Colorado. You can watch the first part in the video below. So far, there are two lectures available but more are coming as the class is ongoing right now.

[Dr. Newhall] is one of us. He’s a ham radio operator and a pilot, as well as an electrical engineer. This class is aimed at others who need to understand electronics in another context. It reminded us of the genesis of one of our favorite books — also from a professor — The Art of Electronics.

The course material promises to cover topics ranging from solar and battery power sources, power conversions, IoT and RF communications, sensors, and DC motor control. Of course, there will also be sections on microcontrollers and associated hardware.

Just like a real class, the first lecture has a lot of housekeeping information, but you might want to skim it anyway. But if you want to get to the electronics, the second video won’t disappoint. While it covers a lot of ground that is probably familiar to most Hackaday readers, it is a good review and there’s more coming in the future lectures.

With all the resources online, you can easily hack your own degree plan together. Having access to instructors like [Dr. Newhall] is exactly the point we were making about how the Internet allows you to leverage the best educational opportunities no matter where you are.

WEEKEND EDITION: BOSTON (AP) — A study that explores the feasibility of using pigeons to guide missiles and one that looks at the swimming abilities of dead fish were among the winners Thursday of this year’s Ig Nobels, the prize for comical scientific achievement.

Held less than a month before the actual Nobel Prizes are announced, the 34th annual Ig Nobel prize ceremony at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was organized by the Annals of Improbable Research magazine’s website to make people laugh and think. Winners received a transparent box containing historic items related to Murphy’s Law — the theme of the night — and a nearly worthless Zimbabwean $10 trillion bill. Actual Nobel laureates handed the winners their prizes.  STORY

Ferrites Versus Ethernet in the Ham Shack

For as useful as computers are in the modern ham shack, they also tend to be a strong source of unwanted radio frequency interference. Common wisdom says applying a few ferrite beads to things like Ethernet cables will help, but does that really work?

It surely appears to, for the most part at least, according to experiments done by [Ham Radio DX]. With a particular interest in lowering the noise floor for operations in the 2-meter band, his test setup consisted of a NanoVNA and a simple chunk of wire standing in for the twisted-pair conductors inside an Ethernet cable. The NanoVNA was set to sweep across the entire HF band and up into the VHF; various styles of ferrite were then added to the conductor and the frequency response observed. Simply clamping a single ferrite on the wire helped a little, with marginal improvement seen by adding one or two more ferrites. A much more dramatic improvement was seen by looping the conductor back through the ferrite for an additional turn, with diminishing returns at higher frequencies as more turns were added. The best performance seemed to come from two ferrites with two turns each, which gave 17 dB of suppression across the tested bandwidth.

The question then becomes: How do the ferrites affect Ethernet performance? [Ham Radio DX] tested that too, and it looks like good news there. Using a 30-meter-long Cat 5 cable and testing file transfer speed with iPerf, he found no measurable effect on throughput no matter what ferrites he added to the cable. In fact, some ferrites actually seemed to boost the file transfer speed slightly.

Ferrite beads for RFI suppression are nothing new, of course, but it’s nice to see a real-world test that tells you both how and where to apply them. The fact that you won’t be borking your connection is nice to know, too. Then again, maybe it’s not your Ethernet that’s causing the problem, in which case maybe you’ll need a little help from a thunderstorm to track down the issue.

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

ICOM ISSUES STATEMENT ON COUNTERFEIT RADIOS AFTER EXPLOSIONS

PAUL/ANCHOR: As Newsline went to production, Icom Japan issued a statement regarding its IC-V82 handheld radio, a discontinued model that some reports say may have been counterfeited in connection with deadly explosions in Lebanon. The company statement did not directly address those explosions by name but said that the radios and batteries, which were manufactured and exported between 2004 and 2014, went to markets that included the Middle East between 2004 and 2014.

Ray Novak, N9JA, senior sales manager for Icom America's amateur radio division, expressed certainty that the radios in question were counterfeit. Attending a Rhode Island trade show, he told the Associated Press: [quote] “I can guarantee you they were not our products."

Acknowledging the relative ease with which unauthorized radios can be duplicated, Icom's website also includes detailed information showing how consumers are able to determine whether or not their radio is a counterfeit.

For a link to that part of the company website, see the text version of this newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://www.icomjapan.com/explore/genuine_info/ ]


(ICOM AMERICA, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

**
INFLUENTIAL GROUP WEIGHS IN ON PROPOSED PRIVATIZATION OF 900 MHz BAND

PAUL/ANCHOR: An influential group in the US has weighed in on the proposed privatization of the 900 MHz band, just as the clock winds down on sending comment to the FCC. Kent Peterson KCØDGY explains the issue - and the concerns.

KENT: The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit group in the US advocating for freedom in the use of technology, has added its voice to the chorus urging the FCC to keep the 900 MHz band accessible to amateur radio operators, industrial, scientific and medical devices and unlicensed consumer electronics. Those frequencies are being eyed by NextNav, a geolocation technology company, which made a request earlier this year to the FCC for exclusive rights to the part of the spectrum between 902 and 928 MHz.

The private company's stated intent has been to have these frequencies privatized for use by 5G cellular communications and a positioning, navigating and timing network to be used in the US as a backup for GPS navigation. The ARRL and a number of other amateur organizations have already spoken out urging the FCC to turn the proposal down. In its response to the FCC, the ARRL argued that the move would pose a risk to public service because it would edge ham radio operators out of a part of the spectrum that is well-used.

The period for comments to the FCC on this proposal closed on Friday, the 20th of September.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION, ARRL, FCC)

**
UK PROVIDERS ROLL OUT SHARED RURAL NETWORKING

PAUL/ANCHOR: In the UK, amateurs using mobile phones to self-spot on the clusters while operating portable got some good news recently from cellular companies, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: Hams operating portable from summits and parks in the UK may find it easier to announce their activations on the various spotting networks with the help of a Shared Rural Network being created by all of the UK's cellular providers. Absence of 4G coverage in rural areas has been a stumbling block for cellular communications in those underserved areas. An agreement was signed in 2020 between Ofcom and the four cellular service providers to fill that need. The regulator announced recently that Vodafone, O2 and EE have fulfilled their commitment to bring 4G coverage to 88 percent of the UK's landmass by this past June but that the fourth cellular provider, "3", did not meet that deadline. Ofcom said that "3" believes that it has met its commitment as of the 22nd of August. The deadline for the network's completion is the end of January 2027.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(OFCOM)

**
DAB+ RECEIVERS TO DELIVER IMPROVED EMERGENCY ALERTS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, outside the US, users of DAB+ [D A B Plus] technology will be seeing some improvements in the delivery of emergency alerts. Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us what's going on.

GRAHAM: The delivery of improved emergency alerts and communication is expected next year for users of the newest DAB+ receivers, which are in wide use in Australia and many parts of Europe and Asia. According to a report on the Radio World website, the radios will be able to respond instantly for emergency transmissions, switching the receiver to the station transmitting the details and displaying text information on the screen. The technology also enables temporary radio channels to be established for the delivery of information. The standard is known as Automatic Safety Alert, or ASA, and ASA-equipped receivers are also capable of being turned on automatically to receive these emergency messages.

The technology was developed by WorldDAB in partnerhip with Digitalradio Deutschland, working with the chipmaker Frontier Smart Technologies. The initiative went forward with manufacturers such as JVC Kenwood and Technisat on board.

DAB+ radio is not in use in the United States but proved especially useful in Australia in 2011 during the floods that overtook Brisbane, Queensland. The deadly flooding killed dozens of people, forced massive evacuations and ultimately cost $2.38 billion, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(RADIO WORLD, WORLDDAB.ORG)

**
SILENT KEY: MICHAEL VALENTINE, W8MM, ENTREPRENEUR, HAMVENTION VOLUNTEER

PAUL/ANCHOR: A familiar face at Hamvention, a beloved member of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association - and generous benefactor to ham radio - has become a Silent Key. Michael Valentine, W8MM, died on the 17th of September.

A former engineer for Drake and Cincinnati Electronics, Michael was well-known for his inventive, entrepreneurial spirit and his generosity to the amateur community. He was well-known too for his later work with radar detectors. In Jack's announcement of Michael's passing, he acknowledged Michael's belief in giving back to the community. He was involved in a number of University of Cincinnati scholarships and was a major supporter of ARRL initiatives as a member of the ARRL's Hiram Percy Maxim Society. He served on the league's Second Century Campaign Committee in 2014, on the occasion of the ARRL's centennial, and launched the Valentine Challenge Fund, matching contributions dollar-for-dollar.

Jack Gerbs, WB8SCT, DARA's past president, said in an email to association members: [quote] "Michael, you will be missed. Until we meet again in that big "Ham Shack in Heaven."

Michael was 74.

(FACEBOOK; RIA JAIRAM, N2RJ; DARA)

**

SRI LANKA'S SEANET24 EVENT MOVES TO OCTOBER 3RD

PAUL/ANCHOR: There's been a change in plans for SEANET24, the three-day regional radio event held in Sri Lanka. John Williams VK4JJW brings us up to date.

JOHN: The date for SEANET24, a three-day event organised by the Radio Society of Sri Lanka, has been moved from September 21st to the weekend of October 3rd. Sri Lanka is poised to hold its first presidential election on the 21st of September and in case a curfew is imposed, the society thought it best to move the date for the amateur radio gathering. The society is urging all those hoping to attend SEANET to update their hotel reservations.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(YL BEAM, RADIO SOCIETY OF SRI LANKA)

**
CINCINNATI HAMFEST SEEKS NOMINEES FOR 2 'CLUB OF THE YEAR' AWARDS

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you know of a club in the Great Lakes Region or the Ohio Valley region of the US that has distinguished itself in support of amateur radio, now is the time to let everybody know. Dave Parks WB8ODF tells us how.

DAVE: The next Cincinnati Hamfest is still almost a year away but organizers are wasting no time in finding a deserving group of amateurs to receive the award for Great Lakes Region Club of the Year. To be eligible, a club must be located within the Great Lakes region of Kentucky, Ohio or Michigan. Most importantly, clubs that are nominated must demonstrate a passion for amateur radio and be active in its advancement. Cincinnati Hamfest also presents an award for Club of the Year among nominees located within the Ohio Valley region of Indiana, Kentucky or Ohio. Nomination forms for both awards are available at the hamfest website, cincinnatihamfest - that's one word - dot org. (cincinnatihamfest.org)

Cincinnati Hamfest won't be happening until August 9th, 2025 but the months ahead will go quickly, so consider who you might want to nominate for these honors.
on bulletin stations around the world including the WR6AAC repeater in Lake Forest, California on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. local time.

**
HAM RADIO HELPS ONE MAN'S HOMECOMING AFTER A HALF-CENTURY

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams in India played a crucial role in helping a man return home after more than a half-century. John Williams VK4JJW has that dramatic story.

JOHN: An abused child who was sold by his father and stepmother 52 years ago in India has been able to return home to the property he inherited from his late father in Odisha with the help of amateur radio. According to various Indian media reports, the man, who is now in his 60s, was living in a state-run home whose administrators contacted the West Bengal Radio Club. The West Bengal amateurs are contacted often by local authorities because of the hams' wide network of contacts.

The news report said that more than five decades ago, the man's family had taken him to Delhi and sold him when he was about 8 years old. There was no other information available about what happened to him after that or how he ended up living in a state home.

Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, secretary of the radio club, told local media that the man's younger brother was unable to recognise him after so many years but finally made positive identification after viewing the scars on the man's back that had been inflicted by years of childhood beatings.

The news report said that initially the younger brother did not want his sibling returned because he would have had to share the inheritance of the property with him. The hams intervened and secured support from the district magistrate and other authorities on the matter. The elder brother was returned home and district administrators are taking measures to provide him with his inheritance.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(MILLENNIUM POST)

**
AMATEURS RECEIVE HONORS FROM RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA

PAUL/ANCHOR: Five prominent amateur radio operators are among the 13 award recipients to be honored in November by the Radio Club of America, which has also announced its incoming class of 2024 fellows. That class of eight includes two hams. Jack Parker W8ISH tells us who all of these noted amateurs are.

JACK: Congratulations to physicist and radio astronomer Nathan "Chip" Cohen, W1YW, who will receive the Dr. Arno Penzias Award for Contributions to Basic Research in the Radio Sciences. Chip is known as a pioneer in the area of fractal antennas.

Congratulations also to Tucker Dunham, KD2JPM, who is receiving the Carole Perry Young Professional Award for his work advancing amateur radio digirepeaters for emergency use. Tucker is studying microelectronic engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

James Breakall, WA3FET, will receive the Dr. Ulrich Rohde (ROADY) Award for Innovation in Applied Radio Science and Engineering. An RCA Life Fellow, he is known for his work in numerical electromagnetics and antenna design.

The Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation is being given to Stanley Reubenstein, WA6RNU, for his contributions to the success of the RCA and the industry.

The late electrical engineer, radio personality and leader of the Maritime Mobile Service Net, René Albert Stiegler III, K4EDX, is being honored posthumously with the Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio Award.

Meanwhile, Michael Kalter, W8CI, and Howard Rosen, VE2AED, have been named RCA fellows for 2024. Michael is well-known for his leadership of Dayton Hamvention. Howard, an inventor with more than 83 patents to his credit, is an innovator in RF technology, electronics and medical systems.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(RADIO WORLD)

**
HURRICANE FRANCINE KNOCKS LOUISIANA RADIO STATIONS OFF AIR

PAUL/ANCHOR: Although radio operators on the amateur and commercial side all take pride in the medium's resilience, several broadcast radio stations in Louisiana were not so fortunate during the recent arrival of Hurricane Francine.

The Desk, an industry website, reported that FCC disaster-related reports showed that the Category 2 hurricane took at least five radio stations in the state off the air - both AM and FM broadcasters. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has often underscored the importance of local radio stations in delivering emergency alerts during disasters. The critical role AM radio has played for decades in communicating these messages in the US has been part of a robust debate to retain AM radios in newly manufactured vehicles.

(THEDESK.NET)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for Lucy, AB3MY, operating as DU1/AB3MY on Luzon Island, IOTA number OC-042, in the Philippines until the 24th of September. Listen for her using SSB and possibly some FT8 on 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 metres. QSL via her home call. Her activity is to honor her late father, Percy Tence, PY2PD.

Listen for Michal, OM2DX, using the callsign TO2DX (TEE OH TWO D X) from Reunion Island, IOTA number AF-016, from the 27th of September through to the 7th of October. He will operate CW, RTTY and FT8 on 60-10 metres. Listen for him as well in the CQ World Wide RTTY DX Contest on the 28th and 29th of September. QSO to his home call.

(DX-WORLD.NET, 425 DX BULLETIN)

**
POUNDING - AND SOUNDING - THE BRASS, NASHVILLE STYLE

PAUL/ANCHOR: In our final story, we learn about three avid contesters who traveled recently to Nashville, Tennessee where they learned they could make beautiful music together. Skeeter Nash N5ASH introduces us to them.

SKEETER: Jim Green, KØXV; Lonnie Craven, K4KZ and Dave Needham, AA4VT, are veteran HF operators whose finely tuned skills at sending code demonstrate how well each one knows his way around a CW key, especially during a contest. Never having met one another until this past summer, there was no way these hams could have known that they also share an enviable proficiency in another mode - a mode that also relies on keys, but in this case, musical keys. They all play the French horn and like the CW key, this brass instrument is also capable of creating a powerful message. It did just that when the men joined the Celebration Orchestra for a performance in late June in Nashville, Tennessee. The orchestra is part of the Global Missions Project that uses the power of Christian evangelical music to transmit a message of faith. After three hours of rehearsal on the morning of June 21st, the curtain went up on the orchestra that same afternoon.

Jim told Newsline in an email that Dave and Lonnie have traveled internationally on missions with the music ministry but this was his first time with the Celebration Orchestra. The last thing he expected was an eyeball QSO. Jim told Newsline: [quote] "Imagine my absolute surprise to learn that there were two horn players who were also radio amateurs." [endquote]

Now they can listen for one another, whether they are pounding - or sounding - the brass, As Jim told Newsline: [quote] "Whether we perform together again remains to be seen. If we register for a trip, then we will make music together again." [endquote]

FRIDAY EDITION:  The leaves are turning yellow and red on a lot of trees around here, seems early but probably brought about by the 28 day drought....Icom IC-V82 handheld transceivers designed for amateur radio use have been identified as the latest device to deliver deadly explosions targeting members of Hezbollah. The identification of Icom radios follows an initial attack on members of Hezbollah in which pager devices were used to deliver deadly explosions.

Icom is investigating the reports of its radios being used in these attacks while Icom sales reps believe the radios identified are knock-offs. Icom is expected to release its findings on its website. The IC-V82 was discontinued in 2014.

Source: Washington Post

ARRL Announces Partnership with Grouper

THURSDAY EDITION: Check your walkie for explosives....

Japan's Icom investigating radio devices carrying its logo after Lebanon blast

The Radio Club of America has announced both its annual award recipients and its incoming class of 2024 fellows. Through these awards, RCA has recognized individuals for their contributions to the wireless communications industry since 1935. This year, 13 awards will be presented while eight RCA members will be elevated to fellow status.

The recipients and fellows will be honored at the 2024 RCA Awards Banquet at Westin Times Square in New York City on Nov. 23.

Founded in 1909, the Radio Club of America is a 501(c)(3) organization comprised of wireless communications professionals. According to the club, its award winners are those who have dedicated significant time and talent toward the advancement of the wireless industry. Nominations are accepted from anyone in the field.

Past award recipients include Edwin Armstrong, Martin Cooper, Jay Kitchen and Fred Link, among others.

Find RCA’s list of 2024 award recipients and fellows below, as well as RCA’s own definition of each award.

2024 Award Recipients

Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay, Armstrong Medal

This award is given to a person who has demonstrated excellence and made lasting contributions to the arts and sciences of radio.

Dr. Chattopadhyay is a senior scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and an award-winning expert in microwave, millimeter-wave and terahertz technologies with over 375 publications and numerous prestigious accolades, including the NASA-JPL People Leadership Award in 2023.

René Albert Stiegler III (K4EDX) (posthumously), Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio Award

This award is given in recognition of unique contributions to the field of amateur radio.

Stiegler was an electrical engineer and radio personality, known for founding mobile communication companies, serving as chief engineer of WABB(FM) and leading the Maritime Mobile Service Net.

Tucker Dunham (KD2JPM), Carole Perry Young Professional Award

This award was established to honor a young professional who was part of the RCA Youth Activities Program and has gone on to a career in wireless science.

Dunham won RCA’s Young Achiever Award in 2018 and is currently studying microelectronic engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology with advancements in amateur radio digirepeaters for emergency applications to his credit.

Dr. Nathan “Chip” Cohen (W1YW), Dr. Arno Penzias Award for Contributions to Basic Research in the Radio Sciences

This award recognizes significant contributions to basic research involving RF and related subjects to inspire future generations of scientific professionals.

Dr. Cohen is a physicist, radio astronomer and CEO of Fractal Antenna Systems, known for pioneering fractal antennas and metamaterials with over 100 technical papers, 93 patents and numerous accolades to his credit, including the RCA DeForest and Grebe Awards.

Dr. James Breakall (WA3FET), Dr. Ulrich Rohde Award for Innovation in Applied Radio Science and Engineering

This award recognizes significant contributions to innovation in applied radio science and engineering in the wireless industry to inspire future generations of wireless professionals.

Dr. Breakall is a professor emeritus of electrical engineering at Penn State, renowned for his work in numerical electromagnetics and antenna design, including contributions to the Numerical Electromagnetics Code, the HAARP facility and the popular Skyhawk Yagi antenna. He has more than 45 years of experience and is distinguished as an RCA Life Fellow.

Stanley Reubenstein (WA6RNU), Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation

This award recognizes long-time RCA members who have either made noteworthy contributions to the success of the club or to the radio industry.

Reubenstein is a retired manufacturer’s representative and former president of RCA with a career spanning sales, marketing and leadership roles in the communications industry. He is recognized with numerous awards, including the Barry Goldwater Award and the E.F. Johnson Award.

Ross Merlin, Jay Kitchen Leadership Award

This award recognizes an individual with a high level of success leading a wireless association, government agency or commercial enterprise.

Merlin is a retired U.S. federal government expert in emergency communications interoperability, known for creating the National Interoperability Field Operations Guide and managing programs like FEMA’s FNARS and the SHARES HF radio program.

Professor Dr. Morimi Awama, Lee de Forest Award

This award is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement of radio communications.

Dr. Awama, a former executive at AT&T Bell Laboratories, has a long publication record in technical journals and studies for the U.S. Department of Defense and played an important role in developing emerging communication technologies, including contributions to the Telstar Project.

Dr. Robert Wilson, Lifetime Achievement Award

Through this award, the RCA Board of Directors recognize an individual’s body of work accomplished over a lifetime toward the art and science of wireless technology.

Dr. Wilson, as a physicist and radio astronomer, contributed to radio astronomy at Caltech and Bell Laboratories. He earned the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physics with his colleague Arno Penzias for their 1964 cosmic microwave radiation discovery.

Mike Molnar, Ralph Batcher Award

This award is presented to an RCA member for their significant work in preserving the history of radio and electronic communications.

Molnar has been designing gamma cameras for veterinary diagnostics since 1984, while researching and writing about radio history, earning him the AWA’s Robert Murray Award in 2021.

Charles Kirmuss, RCA President’s Award

The RCA President uses this award to select an individual who has demonstrated dedication to the work of the club.

Kirmuss has contributed advancements to digital video, audio recording and first responder-aiding GPS technology. His company, Kirmuss Audio, is recognized as uniquely capable of producing a process and machine that cleans and restores recording grooves.

Alan Spindel (AG4WK), RCA Special Services Award

This award recognizes a club member who has performed significant work to advance its goals and objectives.

Spindel is the senior electrical engineer at Global HF and has over 20 years of telecom experience developing digital HF radio modems and automating large-scale HF radio systems.

Evelyn Torres-Gomez, Wireless Innovation Award

This award recognizes an individual who is creating a new concept or product that is currently in use in the wireless industry.

Torres-Gomez is the founder and CEO of Solaris Technologies Services — an award-winning telecommunications manufacturing company known for high-capacity mobile tower solutions — with multiple patents to her credit.

Mario A. Vulcano, USN Captain George P McGinnis Memorial Award

This award recognizes service and dedication to the advancement and preservation of U.S. Naval Cryptology, as nominated by the U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association.

Vulcano served 22 years in the U.S. Navy as a cryptologist and instructor, followed by a civilian career teaching cryptologic warfare, receiving numerous military and civilian awards.

2024 RCA Fellows

Elevation to fellow is made by invitation to members who are in good standing for at least five years, in recognition of their contributions to the art and science of radio communications, broadcast or to RCA.

The following RCA members are elevated to fellow status in 2024:

Michael Kalter (W8CI)

Kalter has experience as president and COO of Behm Quartz Industries and is an avid supporter of amateur radio. He led the restructuring of the Dayton Hamvention.

Becky Neugent

Neugent, a public-safety professional since 1997, has overseen the installation of public safety radio dispatch systems and served in various leadership roles within APCO International, including her current role as the 911 Director for Autauga County, Ala. She was named the 88th President of APCO International in August 2023.

Stephen Nichols

Nichols is the executive director of the Project 25 (P25) Technology Interest Group with over 30 years of experience in land mobile and public safety radio. He led business development for Thales Defense and Security’s P25 product lines and earned the RCA’s Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation.

Howard Rosen (VE2AED)

Rosen is a self-taught inventor and entrepreneur with over 83 patents, including the first video compact disk and various innovations in electronics, RF technology and medical systems.

Dr. Julio Urbina

Dr. Urbina is a full professor of electrical engineering at Penn State specializing in radar design, radio wave remote sensing and space instrumentation. He was selected as a Fulbright Scholar for 2024-25.